Seventy years old is the age to take risks!

White Tiger Hall, Zhu Residence.

Zhu Hu sat on the armchair in the main hall, clutching the Marrow Cleansing Pill in his hand, examining it from all angles, and making clicking noises under his breath.

The more he looked at this elixir, the more extraordinary it seemed.

Given his status, he had never seen such a high-quality Marrow Cleansing Pill before; it must have been made by a master alchemist!

A third-grade alchemist could never refine pills of this quality.

Standing next to him was Ding Wu, who was speaking animatedly.

"Master Zhu, you didn't see it. Last night, flames soared into the sky inside Old Man Jiang's mansion. The terrifying aura was enough to burn even a master of the Meridian Opening Realm to ashes. That old fellow is indeed hiding his true strength."

"I estimate that the grade of the pill he refined must be quite high!"

"really?"

Zhu Hu revealed a hint of surprise. What kind of pill was Jiang Yuan refining that could scare away a martial artist in the Meridian Opening Realm?

Could it be that this old fellow is truly a master alchemist?

Just then, footsteps came from outside the door.

"Master, Master Jiang has arrived!"

A disciple reports.

Zhu Hu immediately dropped his serious expression, put on a smile, and got up to greet them.

"Oh, Brother Jiang, we've been waiting for you!"

Zhu Hu strode to the door, grabbed Jiang Yuan's hand, and greeted him with the same enthusiasm as if he had seen a long-lost brother.

"You're too kind, Master Zhu." Jiang Yuan bowed.

"Come in, come in, have a seat!"

Zhu Hu invited Jiang Yuan into the main hall, personally poured him tea, and then sat down, looking at Jiang Yuan with a smile.

"Brother Jiang, how was your night?"

"good."

Jiang Yuan picked up the teacup, his expression unchanged.

"good?"

Zhu Hu raised an eyebrow. "I heard from Ding Wu that Brother Jiang's mansion was ablaze with flames last night; it was quite a sight."

"Oh, I was refining pills last night, and the heat was a bit too high, which disturbed the hall master."

Jiang Yuan put down his teacup and said calmly.

Zhu Hu laughed heartily, "Haha, Brother Jiang is indeed honest. I didn't expect you to be such a remarkable alchemist."

"If I had known this would happen, I should have given up my position as hall master to my elder brother!"

Although it sounded like a joke, it was actually a test.

Jiang Yuan was naturally not fooled and said with a faint smile, "Master Zhu is joking. I only know some tricks, how could I dare to covet the position of Master?"

"Besides, the other hall masters wouldn't agree."

That's an even more clever way of putting it.

On the surface, it's said that the other hall masters wouldn't agree to Jiang Yuan replacing Zhu Hu, but in reality, it's that Jiang Yuan is now in control of the four halls and looks down on the small White Tiger Hall.

"Hahaha.."

Zhu Hu's smile deepened, and he said warmly, "Brother, I was just joking. We're as close as brothers, how could I have such scheming thoughts?"

"However..."

Zhu Hu's smile faded slightly, and he said, "Brother, you're being too formal with me."

"After all, you were recruited by my White Tiger Hall. With your alchemy skills, why don't you think of your own people first, instead of letting outsiders benefit?"

"Those guys have always been very wary of your older brother."

This bastard, talking as if you weren't on guard?

You're the one who's most wary of me.

Jiang Yuan inwardly scoffed, but maintained a warm smile. "Master, you flatter me. I haven't refined pills for many years. I only did it on a whim recently, and I don't even know if my skills have deteriorated. How could I dare trouble you?"

"Hey, big brother, you're underestimating me!"

Zhu Hu waved his hand, his face full of righteousness, "Since you want to refine pills, brother, I will naturally give you my full support with all the resources of the White Tiger Hall. How could I possibly be negligent?"

"In that case, from now on, my White Tiger Hall will provide all the medicinal herbs for your alchemy, brother!"

As for the profit...

Zhu Hu grinned. "Brother, how about we split the profits fifty-fifty?"

"Two eights." Jiang Yuan's words were astonishing.

"Forty-six." Zhu Hu's smile remained unchanged.

"Sanqi." Jiang Yuan didn't even lift his eyelids.

"Brother, isn't this inappropriate?"

Zhu Hu's smile was stiff.

You old bastard, you're really greedy!

"Master, I am getting old and really don't want to strain my body," Jiang Yuan said with a regretful expression.

"Hey, brother, you're wrong. Seventy is the prime of life for us martial artists!"

"How about we go with 37%?"

Zhu Hu was spitting as he spoke, his enthusiasm for Jiang Yuan was unprecedented; he was practically begging Jiang Yuan to refine the elixir for him.

Damn it, with alchemists around, who can compete with their White Tiger Hall for profits?

The elixir industry is truly a highly profitable one.

Jiang Yuan smiled. Since Zhu Hu wanted to use him, why couldn't he use Zhu Hu in return?

Zhu Hu seeking him out was something he had long expected.

Alchemy is too expensive.

If he could use the White Tiger Hall's resources to make money for himself, that would be the most cost-effective option!

Moreover, this would allow him to further enhance his status within the White Tiger Hall, making Zhu Hu both wary of him and compelled to curry favor with him.

This taste is sour and refreshing!

Finally, amidst their fake smiles, the matter was settled.

Zhu Hu personally got up to see him off, smiling as he escorted Jiang Yuan out of the Zhu residence, and then had Zhang Yuan personally accompany him to the alchemy hall to select medicinal herbs.

......

Inside the main hall of the Zhu residence.

Ding Wu cautiously asked Zhu Hu, "Master, wouldn't giving him 70% of the profits be too much?"

"After all, the medicines come from the pharmacy, and the cost of those medicines isn't cheap."

Zhu Hu revealed a smug smile and said, "Ding Wu, I told you you're a pig-brain, but you're still stubborn and won't admit it."

"Old Jiang is so greedy, and he's in charge of managing the fourth district; he's bound to cause trouble sooner or later!"

"I wish he were even more greedy, the greedier the better."

"Once we catch him red-handed, we'll pin all the bad debts from the West District on him. He'll have to give back not just 70% of the profits, but 100%, and he'll have to pay off the debts we've accumulated over a lifetime of pill refining! Hahahaha..."

The West District's poor performance over the years is not only due to its own poor business, but also related to huge losses and bad debts.

Zhu Hu embezzled an unknown amount of public funds from Xuanwu Hall. If the higher-ups were to investigate, a hundred heads wouldn't be enough to pay for his execution.

Of course, almost everyone in Baihu who knew about this was corrupt, and no one would dare to report it.

Ding Wu suddenly realized, and gave a thumbs up: "Master Zhu is truly brilliant!"

"Not only that, we can also make a huge fuss about the medicinal herbs he buys, and then pay it all back later!"

Zhu Hu gave him a look that suggested he was a promising student and praised, "You little rascal, you're finally starting to get it."

"Master Zhu, what exactly is this old man Jiang's background?"

Lu Bai asked, puzzled.

"I don't know."

Zhu Hu shook his head, his eyes flickering: "But I have a feeling that there's something strange about this old man!"

"Forget it, who cares about their background? As long as they can make money for me, they're a god of wealth, hahaha..."